Podcast Summary: Josh Pate's College Football Show

Episode: SEC & Big Ten Worried + Biggest Portal Spenders
Date: February 27, 2026
Host: Josh Pate (iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

This episode delivers deep-dive commentary on major off-field moves affecting college football — particularly the power games between the SEC, Big Ten, and new coalitions pushing for pooled media rights. Josh provides behind-the-scenes insight on why these legal/financial moves matter for fans, breaks down the latest trends in transfer portal spending, addresses allegations of Big 12 “hate,” and runs through mood analysis for major programs — notably Notre Dame's high expectations. Blending wit with expert analysis, the show gives listeners the context, implications, and real-world stakes for the upcoming season.

Key Discussion Points

1. The SEC & Big Ten vs. College Football’s Power Brokers

Timestamps: [01:19] – [16:52]

• Background:
  The SEC and Big Ten published a joint “white paper” to Congress, pushing back against proposals to pool media rights across all conferences (“saving college sports” commission; “SCS”).
• Public Perception Problem:
  Josh stresses the SEC and Big Ten are so busy “lobbying Congress” and seeking antitrust exemptions that they’ve ignored public opinion, missing an opportunity to win fan support.

  “The majority of the sporting public looks at the SEC and the Big Ten... as the cause of many of college football’s issues.” — Josh Pate [10:18]

• Media Rights Pooling:
  SCS argues pooled rights would “fill your coffers” and keep non-revenue sports afloat by selling all rights collectively, not piecemeal by conference.
  • SEC/Big Ten counter: would bring “legal chaos” and unwanted federal involvement — irony since they themselves are seeking federal intervention.
  • Josh critiques their logic, noting that their reference to 1984’s failed experiment is not comparable to today’s context.
• Product vs. Revenue:
  While fans don’t care about conference revenue, Josh argues that collective media rights would lead to better TV coverage, more diversity in broadcast teams, and an experience more like the NFL, benefiting fans directly.

  “If these people ever get around to properly explaining this to the public, here’s where the public gets on board. The public cares about experience and the overall product.” — Josh Pate [11:17]

• Strategic Insight:
  • “Pooling media rights, it works… There’s a reason the SEC and Big Ten negotiate in a block — it’s because it works.”
  • Josh is skeptical of the “boogeyman” arguments about federal overreach and believes these debates are only going to grow louder.
• Concluding Note:
  Fans should watch this power struggle closely — it actually will shape the future of the sport and the media/fan experience.

2. Biggest Portal Spenders & Transfer Trends

Timestamps: [17:52] – [31:10]

• Pete Nakos’s Portal Reporting:
  Josh covers Pete Nakos’s comprehensive work at On3.com, revealing that some rosters (LSU, etc.) are now conservatively over $40 million in cost, with average major roster expense up 50-60% this cycle.
• Surprise Moves:
  • Wisconsin is spotlighted:

    “This is a paragraph I don’t want you to overlook... ‘Just give us a chance and we will be your highest number.’ Welcome to the party, Wisconsin.” — Josh Pate [19:44] They’ve re-allocated buyout money from a near-coaching change to go all-in on transfers after back-to-back bad seasons.

  • LSU leveraging portal to “go all-in,” comparable to Texas: landed 6 of top 30 On3 portal players, creating both top-level and deep supporting talent layers.
• Clemson’s Downturn:
  • Losing key draft/transfer talent, only one blue chip transfer in, back-to-back recruiting classes outside top 20; Josh questions whether Dabo has something up his sleeve or Clemson is now off the elite trajectory.
• New (Potential) Playoff Crashers:
  Teams outside usual suspects in top portal rankings:
  • Louisville (#5), Virginia Tech (#6), Arkansas (#7), Houston (#8) — “Did I just list a playoff team?” [28:22]
  • Reminder: Last year’s surprise teams (Texas Tech, Miami, Ole Miss) were all top-5 transfer portal programs in the prior spring.
• Transfer Market Takeaway:
  The transfer portal is now a main way programs vault into national relevance fast — not just for the bluebloods.

3. Allegations of Josh’s “Big 12 Hate”

Timestamps: [31:10] – [36:49]

• Listener Email:
  “Chad from Dallas” calls Josh a “fraud” and claims he doesn’t care about the Big 12 (“You ignore 25% of the Power Four because of your love for the SEC and Big Ten”).
• Josh’s Response:
  • “Those are false. Those are lies... I’m the one who yells that the Big 12 is America’s college football conference.” [32:19]
  • Emphasizes that show coverage follows what audience metrics demand — SEC and Big Ten drive far more interest, even if he personally wishes it were different.
  • Big 12 was recently “the most entertaining conference to watch in America because it was so fraught with parity...” [34:05]
• Reality of Modern Media:
  Coverage is dictated by audience, not just personal interest or fairness.

4. Big Ten: Key Questions for 2026

Timestamps: [37:05] – [43:32]

• Tier Analysis:
  • Tier 1: Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State (same as end of last year).
  • Tier 2: Michigan, USC, Penn State, Iowa, Washington — questions around whether these programs can rise.
• Roster & Staff Changes:
  • Ohio State: Strength at QB (Julian Sayin), skill positions, O-Line.
  • Indiana: Top transfer class, new QB, strong offensive skill additions.
  • Oregon: Dante Moore returns, defensive line continuity.
  • Michigan: New staff, potential high-end RB room.
  • Penn State: Strong personnel import via Iowa State, soft schedule.
• Bottom of the Conference:
  Purdue, Maryland, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Rutgers, UCLA — combined records reveal wide gap from top; average margin of defeat in conference to top teams: 34 points.

  “There’s nowhere to go but up for the bottom of the Big Ten.” — Josh Pate [41:53]

• Nebraska:
  Matt Rhule’s “year three explosion” delayed; QB shuffle, schedule with heavyweights — is the “Rhule Rule” just postponed?

5. Behind the Scenes: Bussin’ with the Boys Crossover

Timestamps: [43:55] – [46:23]

• Origin Story:
  • Josh and Will/Taylor (Bussin’ with the Boys) first met at Oregon-Ohio State game.
  • Chemistry and FanDuel partnership led to launching the Wednesday locker room show.
• Media Chemistry:

  “You can’t practice chemistry. You either have it or you don’t... you just, it flows so freely...” — Josh Pate [45:57]

  • Strong on-air rapport means the crossover will likely continue/grow in 2026.

6. Oklahoma’s Playoff Outlook

Timestamps: [46:35] – [49:18]

• Listener Question: “Have we seen the last of Oklahoma in the playoff?”
  • Oklahoma holds 12th-best title odds but has tough schedule (seven of top 19 teams per FanDuel).
  • Key questions: Did last year’s QB injury hide full offensive potential? Can the run game improve (113th in rushing yards/game last year)? Defense lost key pieces, but Venables’ track record merits optimistic caution.
  • Josh’s measured prediction: If offense elevates and the defense merely drops to top-20 status, OU can return to playoff — “Higher than Longhorn fans want to admit. So he editorialized a little bit there at the end.” [46:35]
  • Admits a rankings oversight in previous program lists — OU “should be above Tennessee and Texas Tech” [48:36].
  • Defers specific predictions until summer but signals real confidence in OU’s status.

7. Notre Dame “Mood Tracker”

Timestamps: [50:03] – [56:43]

• General Mood:
  Josh, role-playing Notre Dame fans, describes an all-out “Gold Rush” mood — belief it’s their time for a national title run.

  “Notre Dame is just pure on Gold Rush, just full steam ahead. Get out of the way or get run over. This is our time now.” — Josh Pate [50:18]

• Rationale:
  • Led the nation in returning roster talent, ended last season with 10 straight wins but missed playoff (chip on the shoulder).
  • Schedule is notably soft after the USC game was scrapped; Miami is lone major challenge — “Very low margin for error… you probably can afford to lose one game, but if you lose another, you’re out.”
  • National perception issues: “Every year, there’s a large contingent that thinks Notre Dame’s overrated — and a lot of people pissed off that you maintain your independence.” [52:23]

  “If I were Notre Dame, I’d do exactly what Notre Dame’s done.” [53:40]

  • Message to detractors: “You’d do the exact same thing if you were us, if you could do it, but you can’t.”
• Expectation:
  No excuses with this schedule and roster — “Notre Dame should go undefeated this year or at the very worst, 11-1. They should be a top four seed.” [55:41]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The ripples keep getting bigger in that cup. Just feels like something’s coming.” — Josh Pate opening metaphor [01:19]
• “You want it spelled out to you. What’s happening? Give me the elevator version. Give me the elevator pitch.” — Josh, speaking for the everyday fan [03:42]
• “If these people ever get around to properly explaining this to the public, here’s where the public gets on board. The public cares about experience and they care about the overall product...” [11:17]
• “It’s not the way I prefer it, but it’s the way it is.” — Josh, on covering the Big 12 less due to audience data [35:15]
• “There’s nowhere to go but up for the bottom of the Big Ten.” [41:53]
• “You can’t practice chemistry. You either have it or you don’t... you just, it flows so freely...” [45:57]
• “Notre Dame has the best odds in the entire country... this is one of very few spots in the country this year where it’s fair to say: title or bust.” [51:19]
• “They got to be right in that mix for the national title this year.” [52:03]
• “...you probably can afford to lose one game here and then if you lose another one, you'll probably be out of the playoffs as you should be...” [56:00]

Summary Table: Important Timestamps

| Segment | Start | Key Topics | |------------------------------------------|-------|---------------------------------------------------------| | SEC/Big Ten vs. Media Rights Pooling | 01:19 | White paper controversy, media rights, fan perspective | | Portal Spending & Surprise Entrants | 17:52 | Transfer portal cost, Wisconsin/LSU, playoff crashers | | “Big 12 Hate” Allegations | 31:10 | Audience data, Big 12 parity, show philosophy | | Big Ten Key Questions | 37:05 | Tier breakdown, program outlooks, bottom-tier woes | | Bussin’ with the Boys Crossover | 43:55 | Origin, chemistry, future collaboration | | Oklahoma Playoff Prospects | 46:35 | 2026 schedule, roster, Venables trust factor | | Notre Dame Mood Tracker | 50:03 | “Gold Rush” mode, soft schedule, independence defense |

Tone and Language

• Josh Pate blends accessible, fan-centered language (“Give me the elevator pitch”) with deep industry insight.
• The tone is self-aware, dryly humorous, and empathetic to fans — avoiding conspiratorial scoops for honest, optimistic realism.

Final Takeaways

• Behind-the-scenes power struggles WILL impact the fate and experience of college football fans nationwide.
• Transfer portal spending is at an all-time high, with non-traditional programs crashing into national relevance.
• Notre Dame and Oklahoma are programs with high ceilings — expect major contention from both in 2026.
• Audience demand unavoidably shapes coverage, even when hosts would prefer more balance.
• Chemistry and authenticity drive great media: look for more lively cross-brand collaborations.
• For Notre Dame, the only acceptable result is making the title game this year — the mood is bullish, expectations are sky high.

This episode is packed with strategic perspective, honest critique, and direct, actionable context for understanding the financial, cultural, and competitive shifts shaping college football’s near future.